Unilever is bringing together start-ups and established entrepreneurs in Ireland.
Unilever Foundry, which looks to fuel innovation and create new partnerships that deliver meaningful business impact, has launched in the country in partnership with start-up hub Dogpatch Labs.
Irish start-ups looking to scale could now have a clear path to doing so through collaboration with Unilever’s 400+ brands and functions, allowing them to pilot their product.
“Unilever Foundry provides a single-entry point for start-ups seeking to partner with Unilever, enabling the company’s brands and functions to experiment and pilot new technologies effectively,” said Jonathan Hammond, head of Unilever Foundry.
“Born through Unilever Foundry’s own mission to collaborate, experiment, and pioneer for a sustainable future, The Unilever Foundry at Dogpatch Labs is a physical manifestation of this ethos and gives Unilever access to a growing European start-up community.”
The unique ‘Pitch-Pilot-Partner’ approach dramatically cuts the time it takes to get a new initiative to market.
At launch, the innovation focus is on digital retail experiences, marketing tech and sustainable living.
Start-ups will be invited to respond to a related business challenge with the opportunity to pilot their technology with a Unilever brand, which if successful, could be rolled out across Unilever’s portfolio.
Excited to announce that Unilever Foundry launching in Ireland and to celebrate the partnership with @dogpatchlabs #unilever #innovation pic.twitter.com/SFiW1tU4Nn
— The Unilever Foundry (@UnileverFoundry) July 13, 2017
Located in the heart of Dublin, the Dogpatch Labs co-working space supports start-ups and the tech community by providing a space to grow, share knowledge and form connections.
A monthly events programme at Dogpatch Labs’ co-working space will give start-ups the opportunity to network and collaborate with others working within the space.
Patrick Walsh, MD of Dogpatch Labs, said: “As we evolve as a start-up hub and platform for innovation, we have chosen to focus our efforts on fostering key industries where we see growth prospects.
“There is big opportunity in the FMCG space and Unilever is a natural partner for us to foster startups and help drive innovation and progress in the industry.”
Unilever Foundry is on a mission to transform Unilever growth models to make sustainable living commonplace by collaborating with innovators.
To date, the platform has launched over 100 pilots with start-ups and Unilever brands – stimulating and facilitating experimentation across the organisation.